Assessment

The focus on assessment in the curriculum is to provide a structure for observing, analysing and making decisions on the way forward for children in their classroom learning.

The cyclical process of teaching. Learning, assessing and planning are emphasised. The curriculum outlines a variety of assessment tools. These will form a continuum ranging from the less structured forms of assessment like teacher observation to more structured methods such as standardised testing. Various assessment methods are appropriate for different subjects and differing contexts. Used together they constitute a multidimensional strategy, which can enable the teacher to identify particular learning needs and design-appropriate teaching strategies.

Among its most important purposes are that of determining the future learning needs of the child and its diagnostic role, particularly in the early identification of literacy and numeracy problems. Assessment also has a summative and communicative purpose in providing information to parents and others. Finally its role in evaluation involves monitoring the effectiveness and balance of curriculum content and various teaching strategies in supporting children's learning.